"And I have asked the department to work up options for stockpiling by industry.

"We are working with industry for the potential need for stockpiling in the event of a no-deal Brexit."

He said there was a focus to prepare a stockpile drugs that would be difficult to access in the event of a "no deal" departure from the bloc.

MP for West Suffolk and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matthew Hancock leaves Downing Street on July 18, 2018 in London, England. Leon Neal/Getty Images

In his first appearance at the committee, Mr Hancock added: "Obviously there is a cost implication of doing this.

"We are also focusing on the importance of a continuous supply of medicines that have a short shelf life - so some of the medicines most difficult to provide in a no-deal scenario where there is difficult access through ports will need to be flown in.

"I hope that even under a no-deal scenario that there will still be smooth movement in through ports."

Mr Hancock was asked about the European Health Insurance Card and whether people should take out extra insurance.

"I am confident that we will be able to get a deal and we will be able to get some sort of mutual recognition in that area," he said.

Labour's shadow health minister Justin Madders said: "We need a Brexit deal which puts patients first but now we know that the NHS is having to stockpile medicines because of this Government's chaotic handling of Brexit.

"This is the terrifying reality of this Government's failure to prioritise the NHS in the Brexit negotiations.

"NHS patients and their families need urgent reassurances from ministers about how they're going to avoid this doomsday scenario."